Machine and process for folding towels, and the like



y 1934- s. SOKOLOW ET AL 1,960,682

MACHINE AND PROCESS FOR FOLDING TOWELS, AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 26, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Samue] SDkDlUW, and, 71111 E.Pre a1 y 1934- s. SoKoLow ET AL 1,960,682

MACHINE AND PROCESS FOR FOLDING TOWELS, AND THE LIKE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 26, 1931 -.o"- 24 25 0 27 24" o 22 I" 405 23 o 230 J- 228 r I m 112 222 o; 215 a x O INVENTOR Samue 5ak010w,ana

m John E. Prest, an

y 1934- s. SOKOLOW ET AL 1,960,682

MACHINE AND PROCESS FOR FOLDING TOWELS, AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 26, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 N E TOR Samue 02 09 0144 and J0]? Er a TOR Patented May 29, 1934 UNITED STATES MACHINE AND PROCESS FOR FOLDING TOWELS, AND THE LIKE Samuel Sokolow, North Bergen, and John E. Preston, Newark, N. J., assignors to F. & 0. Manufacturing Company, Inc., a corporation of New York Application September 26, 1931, Serial No. 565,280

11 Claims.

Our invention relates to automatic machines and processes particularly for handling comparatively small pieces of cloth, such as towels, napkins and table tops, and folding them according to a predetermined plan and size.

. .In our former application, 505,520, filed December 30, 1930, now Patent 1,858,565, we have shown and described mechanism for the same general purpose and the present application represents improvements in such mechanism and processes.

One object is to provide improvements which are capable of a wider variety of adjustments as to size and/or style of folding.

Another object is to provide mechanism which has a maximum degree of freedom from danger to operatives.

Another object is to provide mechanism which is more durable and capable of operatingat high 2 0 spegds Another object is to provide means for stacking the folded items in groups or bundles ofpredetermined numbers.

Other objects and advantages will be understoodfrom the following specification.

According to our present invention we provide a mechanism substantially as set forth in our prior application for folding the towel or other item along lines parallel to the longitudinal axis of the towel. Such mechanism includes means for engaging and stretching the fabric along one line intermediate the side edges, means for then .folding one edge of the towel over the central part of the towel, means for folding the opposite edge over the first mentioned edge, and means for creasing the towel thus partially folded. A transverse folding is accomplished by means including horizontal belts travelling toward each other which serve to draw the creased portion of the partially folded towel downwardly into two guides which are arranged one above the other and each of which is hinged or pivoted. The final fold is accomplished by a slide movable transversely between the two sections of the {45 guides, which slide or plunger swings the two guide sections and draws the partially folded towel from the guides and inserts it beneath the feed roller onto a conveyor belt which carries the folded towel to the bottom of a stacker. Successive towels are inserted one beneath the other in the stacker against a stop so that the folded towels will be stacked uniformly.

Counting mechanism is provided for retracting this stop after a given number of towels have been {55 inserted in the stacker so that after every tenth,

twelfth or other predetermined number the next towel will be fed somewhat further than the towels above it and thus project an appreciable distance from the alignment and indicate the top of thenext group or bundle.

When only onetransverse fold is to be made the guide troughs are omitted and the towel passes directly from the converging belts onto the conveyor and thence to the stacker.

Details of the mechanism showing methods of 5' adjustment and adaptation to varying conditions of use will be understood from the. following specification and accompanying drawings.

The general construction of the framework, arrangement of the driving mechanism and the 7 mechanism for folding the fabric along lines parallel to its length and the stackingmechanism are the same as shown and described in our former application.

Figure 1 is a plan view showing parts of the machine embodying our improvements.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of Fig.

1 showing parts of the mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a detail side view showing elements of the folding mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section and rear view showing a part of the driving mechanism and part of the transverse'folding mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a similar but'fragmentary view showing the parts of the folding mechanism in an 5 other position.

Fig. 6 is a rear view of a part of the stacking mechanism showing the counting mechanism.

Fig. 7 is an end view of the same.

The machine herein shown is intended for go hand feeding but it should be understood that the towels or other items might be fed onto the machine automatically either directly or froma mangle or mangles. The table 30 serves as the initial support for the items and preferably has one or more gauges such as 31 and 32 which may be adjustable to assist in positioning the items or the entire table might be adjustable.

Part of the supporting surfaces for the items consists of the belt sections 20, 21, 22 and 23 1 which are supported by rollers 24, 25,'26.and 27. The rollers 25 and 26 and the belts are of course stationary while the longitudinal fold ing takes place. These belts and rollers constitute part of the transverse folding mechanism. 1 5

The longitudinal folding is accomplished by the slide 35 and the rod 36 as in our'former ap-' plication.

The rollers 3'7 and the gripping fingers 38 at opposite sides of the machine constitute means Yes for gripping and stretching the fabric along a fixed line. These rollers 37 may be adjustable toward and from each other if'desired.

The rollers 3'7 are operated by lugs 52 on the slide 35 which engage projections 53 on the rollers. Fingers 38 are yieldingly pressed toward the rollers by springs and are retracted by gear mechanism as in our former application.

The action of the slide 35 and the gripping fingers 38 is controlled by a shaft 55. The arm 57 is hinged at 58 and connected by link 59 to the slide 35. These arms and links are duplicated on the opposite sides of the machine.

Cam 60 on shaft 55 presses against roller 61 to move the arm 5'7 and the slide 35 in one direction. The spring 62 retracts the arm 57 and the slide 35.

The return fold is eifected by a cross rod 36 which is carried by the arms 66. The rear end of each of the arms 66 has a roller 67 guided suitably in the machine. This roller is carried by a pin 68 on the upper end of arm 70 hinged at 58. Cam 71 on shaft 55 engages the roller 72 on the arm '70 to move the arm and the folding rod 36 in one direction. Spring 73 moves the arm in the opposite direction. An intermediate portion of each arm 66 is provided witha roller 74. which rests on an inclined track 75 which is in the form of a cam which raises the arm66 and folding rod 36 as the arm moves toward the operator so as to lift the rear edge of the fabric over the previously folded edge.

" Gripping fingers are arranged on opposite sidesof the machine to coact with spring pressed abutments 82 mounted between the front and rear belt sections. Gripper 80 is hinged at 83 and provided with an extension 85 which carries a pin 86 slidable in the slot 87 of link 88. This link is connected at 89 to arm 57 previously described.

The parts are so proportioned as to time the operation of the gripping. fingers 80 and bring them into action immediately following the start of the folding movement of the rod 36, which, of course; is at the end ofthe rearward stroke of the slide .85. To enable this to take place the edge of the slide v35 is cut away or notched at 35m to permit the gripping members 80 and 82 to act while the slide 35 is still near the rear end of its stroke so that the gripping fingers can take hold of the fabric while it is still stretched around the edge of the slide 35.

The pivotal centers of the hooks 80 are preferably arranged in rear of the resilient supports 82 so that as the sliding bar 36 operates to fold the rear edge of the towel over the center part of the towel it will tighten rather than loosen the grip of the hooks. The bearings for the pivotal supports of the hooks are preferably friction snug so that they will stay in their proper positions while the links 88 are being returned by the action of the cams 71 until the end of the slotted part 87 picks up the pins 86 and then forcibly moves the hooks into the gripping position. The hooks 80 hold the rear edge of the towel while the rod 36 completes the folding of the rear edge of the towel and while the slide 35 is'beingretracted from the folds of the towel.

The action of the gripping fingers 38 and the rollers 37 is so timed that the fingers are retracted before the slide 35 is retracted far enough for the rib 52 to release the arm 53 and allow the'stretching roller to rotate backwardly.

The action above described folds the towel or other item along two lines parallel to one edge, which for convenience we will call the length of the towel, and this mechanism for convenience will be termed the longitudinal folding mechanism, although it is obvious that the proportions of the towel are immaterial to the invention.

When the towel has been folded length-wise as above described it lies freely on the belts 20, 21, 22 and 23 without being held by any moving part or mechanism since the gripping fingers 80 have beenretracted at the end of the cycle.

During the folding of the rear third or part of the towel by the action of the rod 36 a creasing action has been performed in a very simple manner by a depending finger 90 carried by the rod 36 in line with the space between the belts 20 and 21, and 22 and 23. This finger is supported loosely on the rod 36 so that it can swing through a limited angle. Normally the finger hangs downwardly by gravity and when the rod 36 is moved forwardly the finger 90 engages the center ofthe longitudinally folded towel and creases it slightly just above the space between the two rollers 25 and 26. 1

The slide 35 is notched at 90' to allow for the forward movement of the creaser while the plate is in its rear position.

It will be seen that the width of the towel folded and creased as above set forth is predetermined and fixed by the stroke of the slide 35 in one direction with respect to the location of the gripping surfaces of the stretching devices 37 and 38. Although the length of the stroke of the slide 35 is limited its position may be adjusted as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 whereit is seen that the plate has a series of openings 3 and the bracket 56 has a pin 4 adapted to fit in any one of these openings. A screw 5 passes through the plate 35 to clamp it to the bracket 56. By adjusting the support for the slide at this point the widthof the folded towel may be varied.

While the folding action thus described contemplates the movement of the opposite edges of the towel over'the central part of the towel so as to fold it in three layers, it should be understood that the mechanism can equally well fold the towel into four layers by a simple proper proportioning of the parts and of the folding strokes with respect to the fabric. In other words, it is merely necessary to fold the front edge completely to the rear edge in the first folding action and then return the two edges to the central folded line. For this purpose the center of the unfolded towel would be located along the line to be grasped by the gripping and stretching members 3'7 and 38;

It should also be understood that a towel could be folded simply along its center and the folding member 36 omitted entirely although the creasing member 90 or its equivalent would be required for the subsequent transverse folding action.

The first part of the transverse folding action is accomplished by means of the belts 20, 21, 22 and 23 upon which the longitudinally folded towel rests. The rollers 25 and 26 are mounted on shafts 25' and 26' whichare connected b y gears 25" and 26.' Main shaft 55 has a mutilated gear' 103 meshing with the mutilated pinion 104 on shaft 105. On the upper end of this shaft is bevel gear 106 meshing with pinion 106" on shaft 26" so that the belt rollers 25 and 26 are driven intermittently from the main shaft 55. The rollers 24 and 27 may be adjustable to keep the belts 20, 21' and so forth, tight. For instance,

arm 24' whichsupports the roller 24 may be adjusted'by a member 24" in a well known manner. Roller 27 maybe adjusted in a similar manner.

The movement of the belts 20 and 21 and 22 and 23 toward each other carries along the towel toward the center and the creased portion at the center of the towel directs that portion into the bite of the rollers 25 and 26 so that the towel is folded automatically as it passes downwardly between the rollers. If no further folding operation is required, the folded towel may be directed downwardly by the inclined member 111 to the conveyor belt 112 from which it is ledto the stacker. This stacker includes belts 138 for receiving the opposite edges of the folded towel. Plunger 141 mounted between the belts 138 lifts the towels consecutively to the bottom of the stack and at the same time lifts the entire bundle of previously stacked towels which are guided in a suitable cage.

Rods 153 carried by the pivot arms 154 serve to support the bottom edges of the stack of towels but are yieldingly mounted so as to tilt upwardly and allow each successive towel to be inserted from the bottom as set forth in our former application. To count the towels we provide a stop 200 which is hinged at 201 and provided with a plunger 202 of a solenoid magnet. A ratchet wheel 203 carries a projecting member 204 adapted to press two contacts 205 together. These contacts are arranged in circuit with a source of current 206 and the solenoid winding. The ratchet 203 is drawn intermittently by the swing of one of the arms 154 which is connected to the ratchet by the link 20'? and spring pressed pawl 208. As the ratchet 203 rotates projection 204 closes the circuit through the solenoid and retracts the stop 200 so that at that instant the towel which engages the stop will travel a little further than the previous towels, thus leaving one towel every so often projecting beyond the edge of the stack. The number of towels thus counted will of course depend upon the design of the ratchet and the number of projections 204 for actuating the solenoid. It should be understood that other counting devices, mechanical or electrical, may be employed for this purpose.

In case the towels are to be given a second transverse fold the inclined guide 111 is omitted or removed and in this case the guide chutes 210 and 211 are brought into action. These guide chutes are pivoted at 212 and 213 respectively, and are normally vertical in alignment beneath the space between the rollers 25 and 26 so that the towel after its first fold descends into the chutes Where it is free to drop by gravity against the stop 214 in the lower chute.

This stop may be arranged at any suitable height so that the next transverse fold will occur at the proper point.

The final transverse fold is effected by a plunger 215 carried by the upper end of the swinging frame or arm 216. This arm is under tension of the spring 217 and is retracted on cam 218 on shaft 219. The link 220 carries a roller 221 which presses against the cam 218. One end of the link is hinged to the arm 216, the other end is guided by the shaft 219. This shaft 219 is driven from the shaft 55 through spiral gears 222 and 223.

The conveyor 112 travels on the roller 225 which has a gear 226 meshing with gear 227 on shaft 219 so that the conveyor 112 is driven from the shaft 55 through the gearing above mentioned. Above the conveyor 112 adjacent the plunger 215 is located a roller 228 which is driven from the roller 225 by gears 229 and 230. When the plunger 215 moves to the left as seen in Fig. 5 it engages the rollers 231 and 232 on the guide chutes and tilts the guide chutes in the direction of movement of the plunger 215 and the folded towel, and the front end of the plunger 215 thrusts the bight of the towel into the space between the roller 228 and the conveyor belt 112 so that the rotation of the roller and the movement of the belt carries the completely folded towel forwardly along the upper rows of the conveyor belt 112. The tilting action of the guide troughs 210 and 211 thus facilitates the removal of the folded towel from the chute sections. When the arm 216 and the plunger 215 are retracted by the action of the cam 218, the springs 233 and 234 return the guide chutes to their vertical positions where they rest against stationary stops such as 235.

The adjustable set screw 240 serves to support the folding plunger or wedge 215 when it is disengaged from rollers 231, 232.

By properly arranging the position of the crease which enters between the rollers 25 and 26, the towel may be folded into two, three or fou layers.

For instance to make a three layer fold the napkin or towel isehid on the table in position so that one third of its length rests on belt 23 and two thirds on belt 22. The crease is thus formed at a point one third the length of the napkin from the right hand end (-Fig. 5). The belts then carry the creased napkin down into the guide chutes 210 and 211 so that the doubled section (of two layers) rests in the lower chute 211 and the single layer remains in chute 210. The wedge 215 then engages the napkin just above the short end and draws the napkin from the chutes and at the same time folds the following end or single layer over the double thickness. The tilting action of the chutes prevents the napkin from unfolding.

We claim:

1. In a folding machine, two belts having their upper runs traveling toward each other, means for creasing a fabric between said belts, a conveyor, a feed roller adjacent said conveyor, two spaced guide chutes arranged beneath said belts and in front of said roller and conveyor, and a plunger for engaging a fabric between said chutes, folding the fabric and inserting the folded fabric between said roller and said conveyor.

2. In a folding machine, two belts having their upper runs traveling toward each other, means for folding a fabric on top of said belts, means for inserting a fabric between said belts, a conveyor, a feed roller adjacent said conveyor, two spaced guide chutes arranged beneath said belts and in front of said roller and conveyor, and a plunger for engaging a fabric between said chutes and inserting the folded fabric between said roller and said conveyor.

3. In a folding machine, a pair of conveyor belts having article-supporting surfaces traveling toward each other with a space between them for passage of a folded article, slides movable across said belts for folding an article on said belts, guiding means in line with said space, a folding member movable transversely of said guiding means, and means for receiving the folded articles from the folding member.

4. In a folding machine, a horizontally movable conveyor, a feed roller above said conveyor,

two spaced guide chutes arranged vertically in front of said roller and conveyor, and a plunger for engaging a fabric extending between said chutes, folding the fabric and inserting the folded fabric between said roller and said conveyor.

5. In a folding machine, a horizontally movable conveyor, a feed roller above said conveyor, two spaced guide chutes arranged vertically in front of said roller and conveyor, horizontally movable folding members arranged to deliver a partially folded fabric into said chutes, and a plunger for engaging a fabric extending between said chutes, folding the fabric and inserting the folded fabric between said roller and said conveyor.

6. In a folding machine, two swinging guides, and a folding plunger movable between said guides.

'7. In a folding machine, means for folding a fabric along a longitudinal line, a pivoted normally vertical guide trough, means for folding the fabric along a transverse line and delivering it into said trough, a moving conveyor beneath said trough and a horizontally movable plunger for engaging the folded fabric while the fabric is in the trough and transferring the folded fabric to the conveyor.

8. In a folding machine, horizontal supporting means having a vertically extending passage for a fabric, a swinging guide trough for the fabric supported beneath said passage, means for moving the fabric through said passage into said guide trough, a belt conveyor beneath said guide trough and a plunger for folding the fabric and transferring it from said guide trough to said conveyor.

9. In a folding machine, two rollers having their adjacent faces rotatable toward each other for gripping and folding an article between them and delivering a folded article downwardly, means for creasing an article and inserting the creased portion betweenthe adjacent faces of said rollers, two substantially vertical guide tubes arranged immediately beneath the space between said rollers, one of said guide tubes being located below the other guide member with aspace between the two guide tubes, and an oscillating member movable between said guide tubes for drawing the folded article from said guide tubes and again folding it. v p.

10. In a folding machine, a supporting table, means for folding one edge of an article over an adjacent portion of the article, two rollers arranged below the folded article and having their adjacent faces rotatable towardeach other, means for causing the longitudinally folded article to be inserted between said rollers, means for rotating said rollers so as to fold the article about a transverse aXis and deliver it beneath said rollers, vertically disposed guiding members beneath said rollers for receiving and holding a folded article when entirely freed from said rollers, a reciprocating member for engaging said article while held by said uiding members free from the rollers and further folding it, means for removing the folded article from the folding member, and means for causing the foregoing devices to act upon the article consecutively.

11. In a towel folding machine, a horizontal table for supporting a towel, means for folding the towel about a longitudinal axis while supported on the table, a pair of rollers mounted below the level of the table top with their adjacent faces rotatable toward each other, a creasing device arranged to operate on the partially folded towel immediately above the space between the rollers, tubular guiding means arranged vertically beheath the space between the rollers for receiving a partially folded towel and supporting it free of the rollers, a vertically adjustable stop forming the bottom of the tubular guiding means and a plunger movable horizontally through the tubular guiding means for drawing the partially folded towel from the guiding means and giving it an additional fold, the position of the stop deter- 1 5 mining the position at which the final fold in the towel will take place.

SAMUEL SOKOLOW. JOHN E. PRESTON. 

